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Suicide among psychiatric in-patients in a changing clinical scene

Suicidal ideation as a paramount index of short-term risk

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

H. G. Morgan  and
Ruth Stanton
H. G. Morgan*
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, University of Bristol
Ruth Stanton
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, University of Bristol
*
Emeritus Professor H. G. Morgan, FRCPsych, Department of Mental Health, University of Bristol, 41 St Michael's Hill, Bristol BS2 8DZ
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Abstract

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Background

Rapid changes in styles of clinical practice mean that we should carefully monitor the way suicides occur among psychiatric patients both in hospital and in the wider community.

Method

Patients who had died through suicide either while receiving in-patient care or within 2 months of discharge from hospital were compared with a similar series reported 10 years previously. Clinicians' perceptions of patients' behaviour were compared with concurrent controls.

Results

Patients in the more recent study were younger, more often male, and a greater proportion had been discharged from in-patient status. Hazards which complicated risk assessment included short-lasting misleading clinical improvements, variability in degree of distress, and a reluctance to discuss suicidal ideas. Over a range of perceived behaviours it was not possible to distinguish suicides from controls.

Conclusions

In assessing suicide risk paramount importance should be attached to monitoring suicidal ideation and addressing the several hazards which might complicate this procedure.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 171 , Issue 6 , December 1997 , pp. 561 - 563
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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